French Line

A resurgent and proud French Line brought out two new ships in 1952. The Flandre and the Antilles. This bronze medallion is the maiden voyage medal for the Antilles as sold in her on-board gift… read more ›

A stunning 80-page book written by the shipyard itself chronicling their first 50 years of amazing history.  In French, there is much detail about the war years, bombings endured by both sides, and the rapid… read more ›

An old friend always refers to De Grasse as CGT’s “spunky” ship. What he means is that she was built as an intermediate liner in the 1920’s, but after the war, she alone carried the… read more ›

After some teething problems during her first year of service, the Flandre found a loyal following.  In a reference to her early problems, travel writer Temple Fielding said of her: “Now many travelers swear by… read more ›

Glossy first-class deck plans for the Flandre.  Dated March, 1955.  These were the gravy years for CGT postwar.  The fleet had finally returned to service and strength!  12 photos of the ship and her interiors. … read more ›

A resurgent and proud French Line brought out two new ships in 1952. The Flandre and the Antilles. This bronze medallion is the maiden voyage medal for the Flandre as sold in her on-board gift… read more ›

Highly sought-after sterling silver medal for the beautiful France of 1912.  CGT only produced one four stacker, but she was an amazing one!  The artist who designed the medal, Louis Patriarche, was a famous French… read more ›

One of the most interesting and unusual items I have ever had for CGT’s France of 1912.  12 plates (both black & white and a few color) of the interiors and details of the liner…. read more ›

Iconic gummed baggage tag from a beloved liner now sadly lost. Mint condition. A quantity available.

Full-color brochure filled with 35 photos for both classes. Fold-out in the middle with an aerial photo of her at sea. Pull-out profile at the back which is color-coded to show you in what parts… read more ›

A full-color fold-open brochure with great graphics for the fantastic ss France.  One I haven’t had in quite some time.  The French Line was creative in the images with this brochure.  Really cute.  Measures about… read more ›

Cute little juice glass from the service of the France of 1962. Frosted CGT logo. Of all the liner crystal I stock this timeless pattern is the most popular.  Stands about 3.5″ tall. Excellent condition.

Coming in at a massive 46″ long, this is an amazing cut-away. In full-color, 232 items are listed in the extensive key. It is sad to think that this magnificent liner is now gone. As… read more ›

Miniature deck plan for one of the last Ships of State. Great detail. Some photos of her interiors.

Likely the last deck plan ever made for the incomparable ss France.  She remained “the” ship until the end with passengers such as Elton John, Yoko Ono, and John Lennon crossing on her (on the… read more ›

Superb fold-out color-coded deck plan for first class. Who fantasizes about traveling any other way?  Eight color photos on glossy paper. In French and English. One of the best deck plans you can find for… read more ›

Wow!  The French Line really went all out on this glorious color-coded tourist-class (second-class) deck plan.  It is full glossy with all color photos.  CGT was being quite careful to cultivate the tourist market, and… read more ›

You know CGT went for broke when they gold washed their bronze medallions. The ss France was France’s last transatlantic liner and one of the last ships of state to be built. She was amazing. … read more ›

A very unusual set of six flyers for the French Line dating to around 1967 that I have never seen before.  This set of  brochures covers the various services offered on board the ss France… read more ›

Very highly sought-after china demitasse cup and saucer in fine bone china as produced by Haviland for the French Line.  The gold leafing is in very good condition, including the CGT on the cup although… read more ›

ss France of 1962 hot-chocolate cup and saucer.  Highly sought after, in fact, I have never had another.  This massive saucer measures about 6.5″ with the cup measuring about 5″ from handle to rim.  In… read more ›

Elegant bone-china dinner plate from the celebrated ss France of 1962.  The French Line really splashed out on the food with one critic suggesting the sea gulls followed the France instead of other ships since… read more ›

The French Line, ever attentive to your culinary needs, provided these small silver-plated pepper grinders for table use.  They used a similar style going back to the Normandie, the Ile, and 1912 France.  In near… read more ›

An interesting French Line brochure I have only had once before.  Covering the famous ss Ile de France, ss Flandre, and ss Liberte.  Dates to 1950s or, if you will, the 100 year give or… read more ›

A fascinating brochure for the French Line from the ss Normandie era.  As it says itself: “Who would dispute the statement that, without its personnel to give it soul, the most gigantic, most lavishly decorated… read more ›

A very proud French Line produced this bronze medal in 1955 for the 100th anniversary of the company.  Perhaps in a bit of austerity following the war, the size of the medals produced in the… read more ›

Great souvenir pin dish with the famous “sailor-at-the-helm” logo as seen on many French Line souvenirs.  Measures about 4¼” across.  Excellent condition.

Very nicely done brochure for the 75th anniversary of the French Line in 1939.  28 pages with lots of illustrations and photos on board.  Some are even in color.  Great condition with some dirt on… read more ›

A well-made enamel lapel broach from the famous French Line.  Compagnie Generale Transatlantique sold these in the gift shop on the grand liners of the 1950s such as Ile de France and Liberte.  As opposed… read more ›

Really iconic silver-plated nut dish in the shape of a sea shell.  Identical dishes like these were made for and used on the ss Normandie.  The logo makes me think this dish dates to the… read more ›

France Afloat.  Just the title conjures up thoughts of lazy days at sea and wonderful food.  Dates to the immediate post-war period since the Ile de France and Liberte are listed as being refurbished.  “Once… read more ›

If any of you have read a Fielding’s Guide from the 1950s, you know that Fielding had a bit of a problem with the Ile.  He liked to tell it as he saw it, calling… read more ›

Stunning tissue first-class deck plan for the revolutionary CGT liner Ile De France.  Measures about 42″ x 39″.  Dated January 1, 1928, which makes her less than a year old.  Color coded and in near-mint… read more ›

After Normandie, the most beloved ship of the French Line fleet is a toss up in my opinion between the France of 1962 and the Ile. Like De Grasse, Ile received a post-war medallion of… read more ›

Passenger list for the famous French liner Ile de France.  CGT really loved this cover for their passenger lists, using it for a very long time!  This list is for her voyage from New York… read more ›

Passenger list for the Ile from Havre to New York.  For both first and second class.  It is dated September 23, 1931.  Lots of maids, valets, chauffeurs, and governesses  on board.  What’s neat about many… read more ›

Cabin- and tourist-class passenger list for the Ile de France’s voyage from Le Havre to New York via Southampton on October 2, 1952. Captain Garrigue in command.  1,160 passengers total on board for this crossing.

First-class passenger list for the Ile de France’s voyage from Le Havre to New York via Southampton on October 2, 1952. Captain Garrigue in command.  1,160 passengers total on board for this crossing.

Here is an invitation I think we all would have loved to have received.  It is for Press reporters invited to luncheon in July 1949 to mark the return to service of the famous Ile… read more ›

Extremely rare and desirable sugar tongs from the Ile de France.  Not only are they super cute, but they are in fantastic condition.  Measuring about 5″ and made by Christofle. 

Extremely tough to find salt and pepper shakers from the first-class dining room of the ss Ile De France.  Made by Christofle and in very good condition.  They have the CGT logo in the silver… read more ›

Lovely bronze medal for ss Liberte.  She was, of course, the post war flagship of CGT and thus carried on the traditions of the Normandie.  Made by the French Mint, the medal is in near-mint… read more ›

A very rare puzzle of the French liner Liberte (the ex-NDL liner Europa!) arriving in New York.  May be taken from a photo of her arriving on her maiden voyage, given all the tugs around… read more ›

One of the most interesting souvenir hunts in history was created by the famous French Line.  CGT took an opportunity to manufacture their ashtrays designed by Jean Luce in fine porcelain for their flagship ss… read more ›

Lovely oval baggage sticker for the famous French liner Normandie.  I usually don’t sell baggage stickers, but this one is so  cool that I couldn’t resist!  Unused.

I don’t often sell baggage tags, but when they are as cool and iconic to the travel world as this mint condition example from the French Line’s world famous ss Normandie well….  Unused with its… read more ›

A friend of mine once characterized the type of people who could afford first-class on the ss Normandie as “the privileged class, enjoying their privileges.”  I love the picture that paints in my mind.  The… read more ›

A tourist-class brochure for the Normandie in French.  Fantastic cover art, but what makes it interesting are the renderings inside which make third-class look far more inviting but also suggest it is a maiden-voyage-era brochure. … read more ›

The French Line must be lauded for their efforts as they seem to have produced far more and far nicer brochures for all classes for the Normandie than the Cunard Line did for the Queen… read more ›

Do you wish you could have been a member of the Normandie driving club?  Here is your chance.  Imagine pulling up to the French Line pier in New York in your 1935 Dusenberg for your… read more ›

Unusual cut-away for the ss Normandie.  Your favorite French Line ship is surrounded by nearly 24 interiors renderings, meaning that it certainly dates to before the maiden voyage.  Great cover art!  Something CGT was really… read more ›

The French Line really went all out on intriguing deck plans for the Normandie.  This is a cool plan where a small card pulls out showing various spots on the ship.  You have a key… read more ›

Lovely souvenir enameled broach as sold aboard the Normandie in her gift shops, showing the shield of the province of Normandie.  As opposed to a pin, this one can be put through the lapel hole… read more ›

What would constitute the finest cruise of all time?  Not simply a good vacation, but the high-water mark of all ocean excursions?   Clearly Normandie’s two cruises to Rio should make a list of some… read more ›

Tourist (second) class menu from the ss Normandie’s August 2, 1936, crossing.  No caviar, but the food looks predictably delicious! Very good condition.

Second-class passenger list for the Normandie’s voyage from Le Havre to New York via Southampton.  Sailing date was July 7, 1937.  1,112 passengers on board.  Back shows where it had been attached to an album.

Here is something I don’t believe I have ever had before.  A passenger list dated August, 1936, for third class on board the ss Normandie.  She was making money on this trip.  The French Line… read more ›

Original photo of the ss Normandie on the stocks waiting for launch.  The lines of her magnificent hull are clearly evident.  Photo measures 6″ x 4″ and is in excellent condition.

Lapel pinback for the world’s greatest ocean liner.  In excellent condition with its original ribbons.

Gleaming woodwork, vast space, and your own dining table were hallmarks of the Caen Suite.  Postcard unused and in excellent condition.

Attractive fold-over stationary from the fantastic French Line ss Normandie.  Unused and in excellent condition.  A few sheets available.

What a cool bit of film!  The Normandie Tru Vue filmstrip.  Super sharp and ultra 3-D.  These are a joy to view and own.  Film is in excellent to mint condition in its original box… read more ›

One of the finest items I have ever been able to offer from the Normandie.  An ultra-rare Lalique bone-china dinner plate from the French Line’s flagship.  This china was used exclusively in her best suites. … read more ›

When outfitting the famous ss Normandie, the French Line paid careful attention to the details of dining.  You can see this attention to detail in this magnificent oyster plate.  Designed by the famous Jean Luce,… read more ›

Ultra-rare ss Normandie second-class tea cup and saucer.  These are never seen, especially in this condition which is near mint aside from the tiniest of chips to the saucer.  Saucer measures about 5″ and cup… read more ›

Post card booklet for the ss Normadie.  The French love these booklets, but they never seem to have caught on for the British lines.   Contains 15 printed post cards ranging from the bridge and… read more ›

A post-card booklet for Normandie containing 10 real photo cards for this famous French liner.  Mostly first-class interiors, but one of the third-class lounge is thrown in as well as two exterior.  Complete with no… read more ›

The French loved post card books, and they produced many different kinds for each of their ships.  Among the parts of Normandie illustrated in this one are the winter garden, chapel, swimming pool, theater, tourist-class… read more ›

The French Line, ever attentive to your culinary needs, provided these small silver plated pepper grinders for table use.  This one has the classic ss Normandie “dip” in the “C” in CGT.  In very good… read more ›

A cute individual-sized silver-plated tea pot from the on-board service of the French Line’s ss Normandie.  I love the art deco styling and the thoughtful heat spacers on the handle so you don’t burn yourself. … read more ›

Running 24 pages and full of information on this lovely CGT ocean liner. “Drifting up or down the grand stairway against the background of its exquisite decorations what famous personages one may meet…. This is… read more ›

Super sharp real photo of Verandah Cabin 77 on board the Paris. This was one of ten cabins with private verandahs aft on A Deck. What an amazing room! Great flower vases! Mounted to a… read more ›